Code Injection in GNU Emacs (CVE-2024-53920)
Summary
Code injection in GNU Emacs (CVE-2024-53920). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
In elisp-mode.el in GNU Emacs through 30.0.92, a user who chooses to invoke elisp-completion-at-point (for code completion) on untrusted Emacs Lisp source code can trigger unsafe Lisp macro expansion that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code. (This unsafe expansion also occurs if a user chooses to enable on-the-fly diagnosis that byte compiles untrusted Emacs Lisp source code.)
Source: GitHub Security Advisories (Global) NVD GitHub Advisory
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2024-53920 has been found in GNU Emacs.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 7.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "GNU Emacs CVE-2024-53920" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2024-53920 (GNU Emacs) — CWE-94 / CVSS v3 7.8
Attack vector: local / unauthenticated
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
Arbitrary code execution (CWE-94) exists in GNU Emacs.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of GNU Emacs.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.8/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Audit SBOM/dependencies to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
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1Identify exposure identify
Audit SBOM/dependencies for affected components.資産台帳・SBOM・依存マニフェストで GNU Emacs を使っているサービスとバージョンを洗い出す。
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2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2024-53920 emacs Fixed in: 1:27.1+1-3.1+deb11u6
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2024-53920 emacs24
References
- mailing cve@mitre.org
- web nvd.nist.gov
- web eshelyaron.com
- web git.savannah.gnu.org
- web git.savannah.gnu.org
- web yhetil.org
- web news.ycombinator.com
- web git.savannah.gnu.org
- web yhetil.org
- web lists.debian.org
- web openwall.com
- web github.com
- web openwall.com
- web openwall.com
- web openwall.com